Interlibrary Loan Services

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Is there a fee for borrowing from other libraries?

There is no fee for borrowing items from other SUNY libraries. Most non-SUNY libraries do not charge a fee, but if there is a fee involved, you will be contacted for approval before your request is fulfilled.

• How long will it take for my item to arrive?

A requested book generally takes one week to arrive, but this may vary. Electronically delivered articles arrive within a day or two. You will be notified by email when your items have arrived.

• Where do I pick up and return requested items?

After you receive your email notification, you can pick up your items at the Circulation Desk at the front of the library. If you requested delivery to DCC Fishkill, just ask for them at the Main Office there.

Items may be returned at the Circulation Desk or in the 24-hour book drop box at the Creek Road entrance to Hudson Hall. You may also return items to the Main Office at DCC Fishkill.

• How long can I borrow an item?

Resource sharing through the SUNY network allows you to borrow most books for 16 weeks. Selected media or special collection items may be borrowed for 30 days.

Borrowing times vary for items acquired through non-SUNY libraries. When an item arrives at DCC, the due date will have been assigned already. You will be notified of your due date when you pick up your requested item(s).

• Can I renew items?

You may request renewals through your RitzDiscovery library account. From any RitzDiscovery screen, click on your name in the top right corner and then select "My Loans". Checkmark the item you would like to renew.

If your item came through SUNY Resource Sharing, you may renew up to three additional 16-week periods for regular loans or one additional 30-day period for short loan items.

If your item came from a non-SUNY library, it is up to the outside lending library to decide whether or not you may renew.

It is best to request a renewal through our library a few days BEFORE the due date. If you have questions, please call 845-431-8639 or visit the Circulation Desk for assistance.

• Can I borrow textbooks from other libraries?

Other libraries generally do not loan current textbooks to non-students, so most of the time you cannot borrow textbooks through interlibrary loan services.

Some required textbooks are available through our Course Reserves Collection (for up to two hours within the library). However, we do not have all required textbooks every semester.

The DCC/Follett Bookstore provides a list of all required and recommended textbooks that are available to buy or rent. Follett Bookstore at DCC

• Why can't I get some items?

Some items may not be borrowed for a variety of reasons (including demand, fragility, or age). Always ask a librarian if you have questions about borrowing policies.

• What happened to the old way of borrowing items from other libraries?

If you used interlibrary loan in prior years, you might be looking for the ILLiad log in page. In 2020, all SUNY campuses instituted SUNY Resource Sharing by embedding the interlibrary loan process directly into the new library catalog software in order to encourage lending and borrowing within the SUNY network. If you would like a short training session to go over what has changed, please reach out to the reference librarians by chat, phone, or email.